9 years for rape plus 18 months for sexual assaults

Russell Brand has been jailed for nine years for rape plus another 18 months for three counts of sexual assault

Handing down the sentence at Southwark Crown Court, Mr Justice Bennathan said that Brand had ‘a casual and arrogant disregard for a woman's right to say no to you’.

Brand must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence and will be on the sex offender's register for life. As he was led away he told his wife Laura Gallacher: 'We'll be OK'.

The judge pointed out that the sexual assaults took place in public, leading to 'added humiliation' of his victims, and added: 'The whole episode reeks of casual disrespect, and your belief that fame meant you could act however you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live.'

He noted that two women had been drinking at the time of the attack, but said: 'They were both accomplished women who took perfectly reasonable decisions to go to a party and have a few drinks, or to go to your house for one type of consensual sex. 

‘I pause to add and stress at once the fact they did so in no way, shape or form diminishes your culpability for sexually assaulting one and raping the other. Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent.’

He said he took into account the fact Brand had ‘no significant previous convictions and the 17 years that have passed since the last of these offences and the life you've led since, doing good work and especially in assisting those wrestling with addictions, often by funding treatment’.

And before handing down the sentence, he added: ‘I pause to pay tribute to the determination and bravery of all the women whose evidence I have been recounting.

'I do not increase your punishment because of it but all those women had to face being confronted and being told they lied, or twisted the truth, and/or they’d agreed to your sexual demands. That was all done because of you, and your instructions.'

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police have said they are investigating two additional rape allegations, with one woman alleging Brand began grooming her when she was just 16. Files have been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Last week, the court found Brand guilty of raping a woman at his home in London in 2009, days after meeting her after a gig at the Hammersmith Apollo. She visited his home in Hampstead, where they had consensual sex before he anally raped her.

In her victim statement read to the court today, the woman said: ‘Even now I feel I am living with the trauma of what happened. I lost respect for myself.

‘The defendant’s public profile had a significant impact on me… I felt that if I reported him, I would not be believed. His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless. 

‘His public profile meant that he remained present in my life even when I wanted to move on.I would regularly encounter references to him in the media, which made it difficult to escape reminders of what had happened.’

Brand also sexually assaulted one woman at a bar in Soho in 2004, grabbing her breasts less than a minute after they started chatting at a birthday party; another at the Choice FM studios in London in either 2004 or 2005 when he grabbed her face and kissed her before touching her breasts and bottom;  and a third when he laid his head into her groin while they were making a Channel 4 show in 2009.

In her statement, the victim of that third assault said: ‘I finally feel believed but I am still anxious. I worry there will be repercussions for telling the truth. I worry this will never go away and it haunts me every day.’

The victim of the radio station attack called Brand ‘a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has affected my life. I just hope that he is not allowed to hurt any more women.’

And the woman assaulted in the Soho bar said: ‘For many years, as his star was rising it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke. There were many times I felt visibly sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything.’

Reports earlier today suggested the 51-year-old moved to protect his assets ahead of the court hearing to keep it out of the hands of any victims who may sue for compensation.

He transferred ownership of his £5million Oxfordshire home to his wife, Laura Gallacher, just six weeks ago, the Daily Mail reported, while draining almost £9million from his company Pablo Diablo’s Legitimate Business Firm Ltd, according to The Sun.

In court, Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC said Gallacher is ‘standing by him’ despite the ‘total devastation’ she is experiencing. ‘They are ​wrestling​​ with how to explain to [their] child who's just turned 10 what has just happened here,’ he said.

The former comedian's accusers came forward following a 2023 investigation by The Times and Channel 4’s Despatches programme.  

Mr Justice Bennathan said: 'Those public declarations that you were a sex offender empowered a number of women to come forward and tell their stories.'

Brand – who had denied all counts –  was found not guilty of orally raping the woman he met at the birthday party; another count of rape and a separate charge of attempted indecent assault.He had been told to expect a ‘significant custodial term’ when he was convicted last week.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham today praised the bravery of the women who spoke out and promised more support for any victims of sexual crimes ‘to give them the confidence to come forward’.

After Brand was found guilty, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police, said: ‘Brand used his influence, status and fame to exploit and sexually offend against women. As his profile grew, so too did his sense of entitlement. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.’ 

• To contact detectives working on the Brand case, email CSOU@met.police.uk or 101 from within the UK quoting reference 2321/04NOV26. Support for victims of an assault is available via Rape Crisis’s 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222.

Published: 9 Nov 2026